Florida Begins Smallpox Vaccine Program

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, February 9, 2003

Florida began vaccinating public health workers against smallpox Monday, hoping to create a core group that's immune to the disease should it ever be used by bioterrorists.

Citing security concerns, state officials refused to say where or how many workers were getting vaccinations, which are voluntary for state and county health department workers.

Smallpox vaccinations have begun in 18 states, although the number of volunteers has been fairly low. According to the federal government, about 800 people nationwide had received the vaccine through Friday. The goal is 500,000.

In Florida, state deputy epidemiologist Bill Tynan was the first to be vaccinated, getting pricked 15 times with a tiny bifurcated needle at a government building in the Tallahassee area.

In December, President Bush received the vaccine and ordered the vaccination of 500,000 military personnel in preparation for a possible war with Iraq, which may have biological weapons that employ smallpox.